Evaluation
For my review of this book, I will be going over setting, characters, and theme.
Cervantes’ setting is crucial to setting the tone for this book, and her writing immerses the reader into the story. One example throughout the book is the blood moon, which takes place on the first night of the book and is part of the catalyst of events. There are many moon phases that could have been used to dissuade Rafa from storytelling: a blue moon, a full moon, or perhaps even a new moon, which would result in a very dark night. The choice to use a blood moon heightens the eeriness of the story: the light is off-putting, and ‘blood’ signifies death and danger. In another example of setting, Cervantes writes:
They trampled through wild brush and grass that reached their knees, while wisps of fog reached for them like thick fingers pulling them deeper into the woods. Soon they were so deep into the woods that they could no longer see Ms. Martin’s house behind them nor the glint of the afternoon sun (p. 142).
As I will write later, the book’s antagonist often appears to manifest with the fog. The description of the fog having “fingers”, almost grabbing or luring them, creates fear that the characters here are not alone. As they trample through undergrowth, it is clear that they aren’t on a path, and the further they go from Ms. Martin’s house, the likelier it is that they could become lost in the woods. The reader can almost feel the forest scraping at their legs, creating a feeling of being pulled or grabbed. This part of the woods, too, is dark despite being sunny outside. Overall, the atmosphere of somewhere deep and dark, amidst a potentially malevolent fog, creates an immersive experience for the reader of being lost and surrounded by danger. This setting persists nearly every time the characters are in the woods, which establishes that the reader should and must be scared of this place.
Cervantes writes fantastic characters in this novel. Rafa Fuentes is a strong protagonist and main character. He is many things: a protective older brother, a helpful friend, a creative storyteller, as well as a frustrated and sometimes angry son. His complicated relationship with his mom, Nikki, is fleshed out through memories and dialogue, giving the reader a full picture of why Rafa harbors resentment towards her. Many of Rafa’s above characteristics are fleshed out through his actions; Cervantes does a fantastic job of demonstrating who Rafa is through his relationships and how the people in his life respond to him. Brianna Fuentes, Rafa’s younger sister, is also a strong character. While Cervantes demonstrates their relationship through shared memories, mischief, and concern for the other, Brianna often acts outside of Rafa’s wishes for her, and is shown to have her own opinions, especially in regards to their mother. Their similarities and differences create a realistic sibling relationship that adds to the familial tension in the Fuentes family. Next is Ms. Martin, a neighbor of Rafa’s family. She is the mentor figure of this story: a role that is strengthened by her cryptic warning to Rafa in the first chapter. It establishes her as someone who might know more than they seem, and her sometimes off-putting nature fits the eeriness of this book. The reader’s opinion of Ms. Martin fluctuates with that of the other characters, which I believe strengthens her role as mentor. She isn’t immediately trusted; rather, trust must be built between her and Rafa, which also creates tension in the book as time runs out. The last character I’ll discuss is the antagonist, The Caretaker. The strength of this antagonist cements this book as a memorable one. The Caretaker is especially creepy, which I would attribute to the way that Cervantes disembodies him across space and time. He is able to reach Rafa through texts, fog, and even dreams, making him unpredictable and dangerous. Overall, this book has fantastic characters that weave well together, are believable and relatable people, and enhance the story that Cervantes tells.
Lastly, I loved the themes presented in this book, especially the theme of hope found in repairing family relationships, and breaking harmful cycles. One constant point of tension throughout the book, and that is critical to understanding Rafa, is the fact that their mother Nikki is returning from prison. As previously mentioned, Rafa is resentful towards Nikki because of her neglect, broken promises, and drug use that lead to her arrest. Narratively, Nikki is as much a ghost as any of the other specters haunting this story: Rafa even compares her to “the ghosts he [writes] about” (Cervantes, 2023, p. 109). Her presence is felt, but the audience never sees her outside of memories and discussion about her. However, outside of Rafa’s perspective, Nikki is not shown as having a predetermined fate like the other ghosts of this tale: Bianca, Abuela, and other characters have hope for her. Thus, as Rafa confronts his own similarities to Nikki alongside a looming curse, he has to learn where harmful cycles end and where hope begins. I could say so much more about these themes, but out of concern of giving too much away, I’ll leave my analysis here. As young readers engage with this book, I believe they will find that Cervantes trusts them to come to their own conclusions regarding these themes. Additionally, I believe that readers with any sort of complex relationships to their family will connect with Cervantes’ idea that people are open-ended stories, and there is always hope in the ‘endings’ available to everyone, whatever that may look like. Happy reading!
References
Cervantes, A. (2023). The cursed moon. Scholastic Press.
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